Relatives call for 'answers' on death

RELATIVES OF Edward Fitzmaurice (83) have claimed that they have been "effectively abandoned" by the authorities since his death and have called for "credible answers" to their questions about the killing.

This week marks the tenth anniversary of the death of the draper who lived above his shop in Bellaghy, a village beside Charlestown on the Sligo-Mayo border.

Mr Fitzmaurice died on May 1st, 1998 after being attacked, bound and gagged by intruders but his body was not found until May 6th.

Despite an extensive investigation, no one was ever charged with the death. His granddaughter Audrey Snee, who lives in Britain, said the family were left with many unanswered questions.

"It's been 10 years, 200 suspects questioned, 14 arrests, but to date, no one has been tried for the murder of my grandfather."

Ms Snee said it was obvious that gardaí had not been able to produce a credible case for prosecution, "but why not after such an exhaustive investigation into the case and so many arrests?"

Yesterday a Garda spokeswoman acknowledged the concerns of Ms Snee over the lack of a prosecution but said this was in no way due to lack of effort by the investigation team. "An Garda Síochána wish to assure the family of the late Edward Fitzmaurice and the community that this investigation is very much alive and every effort will continue to be made to bring a criminal prosecution against those responsible for this heinous crime," she said.

The investigation had been subject to regular reviews with a further one scheduled for tomorrow, marking the tenth anniversary, the spokeswoman said.

Ms Snee also expressed concern at the lack of progress on the inquest. "It is already ten years on and memories of witnesses will have faded."

Sligo coroner Dr Desmond Moran said he wished to assure Mr Fitzmaurice's relatives that the file was not dormant. He said the inquest was opened after Mr Fitzmaurice's death but had to be adjourned because of the ongoing Garda investigation.

Dr Moran said he would be re-examining the file and would keep Mr Fitzmaurice's relatives fully informed of developments.

Ms Snee said she had also asked for a Garda liaison officer to be appointed to keep the family updated on progress. Promises had been made "but we never then hear from anyone", she said.

The Garda spokeswoman said family liaison gardaí had been appointed to the Swinford District in the past four months.

Ms Snee said the family felt "especially aggrieved by the lack of information from the authorities, which have effectively abandoned us, leaving us to find out everything about the case from news reports repeated to us by friends and family. Imagine finding out gruesome details about how a loved one was left to die in a press cutting posted to you by a concerned friend, or by doing an internet search," she said.

• Anyone with information about the death has been asked to contact Swinford Garda station at 094 9252990 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.